Muffler for gas-engines.



J. E. HUTGHINS.

MUFFLER FOR GAS ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so. 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

a ll a 111% W] TNENSES:

JOHN E. HU'TCHINS, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

MUFFLER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed September 30, 1913. Serial No. 792,592.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L'JOHN E. HU'rornNs, a citizen or" the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the countyof Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Mufier for Gas-Englnes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices for preventing noise resulting from the sudden introduction of a fluid under,

pressure into the atmosphere, especially the noise resulting from the exhaust of a gas engine directly into the atmosphere, and an object oi my invention, among others, is to provide a device of this class that shall efiectually prevent such noise, that shall be free from an liability to obstruction by reason of over accumulation of water therein, that shall be particularly free from. heat resulting from the passage of gases and other products of combustion therethrough.

@ne form of device embodying my invention, and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a View in central lengthwise section through my improved inuiiler or silencer on plane denoted by dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a View in cross section through the same on plane denoted by dotted line 2-2 of Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the central bafile plate.

My improved muiiier consists of a case preferably formed in two sections, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the numerals 5 and 6 denote said sections that are somewhat similar in construction, but having the difierences hereinafter set out. The section 5, which for the purpose of description may be termed the inlet section, has a gas inlet opening 7, preferably extending in a direction radially of the axis, and a water inlet opening 8 so located that a stream of water flowing into the case thereat will come in contact with the gas as it enters the interior of the case from the inlet 7.

The section 5 or" the case contains a number of annular chambers, the inlet or outer chamber9 being divided from the intermediate chamber 10 by a wall 11, circular in cross section, extending from the end 12 of the case for a substantial part of the distance through the section, and in some forms of construction it may extend entirely through the section. I A slot constituting a passage 13 extending substantially across the wall in the direction of its depth connects the chambers 9 and 10, and the location of this slot is at an angle substantially 90 from that of the inlet 7 A second intermediate chamber 14 is separated from the chamber 10 by a wall 15 and from an interior chamber 16 by a wall 17, both of said walls being circular in cross section. The-chambers 10 and 14 are connected by a passage 18 consisting of a slot through the wall 15, extending substantially across it in the direction of its depth and located on the diametrically opposite side of the case from the passage 13, and the chambers 14: and 16 are connected by a passage 19 consisting of a slot through the wall 17, extending substantially across it in the direction of its depth and located on the diametrically opposits side of the case from the passage 18. A baiile plate 20 secured within the case and resting upon the edges of the circular walls forms one wall of each of the annular chambers, this bafie plate having lugs 21 within which recesses are formed to receive screws 22 extending through the wall of the case, the ends of the screws being located in the recesses and holding the bafiie plate firmly against the edges of the circularly sha ed walls. Openings 23 through this ba e plate into each of the annular chambers admit a small portion of the fluid from Within said chambers into a central chamber 24. A central bafie plate 25 is secured in an annular recess between the meeting faces of the two sections 5 and 6 and has holes 26 connecting the chambers 24 and 27 through which the combined water and gases pass. lhe two sections of the case are secured together in any suitable manner, as shown herein bolts passing through flanges on the two sections being employed for the purpose, and a packing 28 being-located between the two sections. lhe arrangement of the bafie plates may be changed as to number and location without changing the scope of the invention. In the operation of the devices the gases ofexplosion passing through a suitable pipe to the inlet 7 are forced against the wall 11 of the outer chamber, and a cooling fluid, as water, passes in at the opening 8 and comes in contact with the gas as it enters the chamber 9. The gas and water thus interfere with each other and materially reduce the vibration in the sound waves. The com bined gas and water pass around the chamber 9 in oppositedirections and through the slot 13 into the chamber 10-, the two currents, passing in opposite directions again a interfering with each other at the entrance to the slot 13. Passing through the slot 13 the stream is forced against the wall 15 by which it is broken up and caused to pass in opposite directions around the chamber 10 1t to the slot 18 where the operation of breaking up the stream' is repeated, the stream passing ner wall 17, where the operation again takes place, the stream passing in opposite direc- 15 tions in the chamber 14 to the slot 19 and into the central or innermost chamber 16.

' The greater portion of the current of gas and water takes the course above described,

. but a small portion may pass through the 28 openings 23 into the chamber 24: where they commingle with the stream passing through the central opening 29 in the baflle plate 20. From the chamber 24 the gases pass through the openings 26 in the plate into the 25 chamber 27 in the section 6 of the case,

which section, as to its annular walls, chambers, and baflie plate, are constructed exactly as hereinabove described with respect to the section 5, the course of the water and gas however being reversed from the course taken in the section 5, the stream entering the central or innermost chamber 30 and passing out from the exhaust chamber 31. The exhaust opening 32 from the chamber 31 is preferably tangentially arranged, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the exhaust may be conducted from the opening 32 to any suitable point.

Owing to the wide variety in the construction of boats and in the position of the engine, necessity requires the location of the mufliers in various positions, and this introduces a variety of conditions affecting the operation of the mufier, and this is particularly true as to the condition afiecting the flow of water .into and its discharge from the mufiler. The flow to the mufiler must be sufiicient to keep it cool under any of the conditions that may be encountered, and as constructed, in prior devices it is essential that care be taken to so adjust the flow of water to the mufiler that serious results-in its operation will not follow. In my im-- device, illustrated and described.

proved herein, I have guarded against such defects in operation by so constructing the parts that no matter what the conditions existing as to the location of the muflier are, the water will be carried out of the devices to w an extent to prevent such accumulation as to undulyobstruct the flow of gases therethrough, or such accumulation as to cause backflow into the engine and the consequent impairment'oi its operation. It-will be un derstood am in some installations the pipeinto the chamber 14 against the infrom the exhaust opening 32 may extend horizontally or downwardly whereas in other installations it may extend upwardly to a greater or lesser degree. In guarding against these defects in operation each of the plates 20and 25 are provided with openings 34 located at the lowermost point in the mufller, it being intended that the mutfler shall always be located in the position shown in the drawings. A pipe 35 extends from the-opening 33 through the wall of the mufiier at the lowermost point thereof, and

this pipe 35 will be so adapted as an outlet or so connected to the outlet that the water may flow freely therethrough from the muffler under natural forces. It will therefore be seen that care need not be taken as to the amount of water which will be introduced into the muflier, as if it be allowed to flow under free head what is not blown out through the exhaust 32 with the gases will flow out through the pipe 35 and a sufiicient amount of water to keep the mufiier thoroughly cooled will thus be supplied at all times.

It will be noted that the hot gases and their products of combustion first enter the chamber 9 having the largest area and bounded by the outer walls so that the gases when the hottest receive the maximum amount of cooling medium by radiation through the. outer walls of the case, these products of combustion after being partially cooled passing to the inner chamber after beingsubjected to such cooling influences.

In order to avoid any loosening of joints and a consequent means of entrance of gases fi'om one chamber to another other than as intended, the several walls 11, 15, and 16 are made integral with the end 12 of each of the sections of the case, the whole being formed of cast iron that resists to a maximum degree the corrosive efiects of water, and especially salt water, and gases of combustion, andmy improved muffler, so constructed, thus provides a device which will endure for a maximum length of time.

While I prefer that the inlet shall be at the opening 7, it will be noted that should the device be installed with the inlet at the opening 32, similar although perhaps not as effective results will be obtained, in either event water flowing through the inlet first entering an-outer chamber, traversing the intermediate chambers, and, passing through the interior chambers, at last gaining exit through an outer chamber.

It will be noted that the gases passing from the chamber 24 into the chamber 27 flow through the openings in the baffle plate 25 and that this bafiie plate is employed parts in the opposite section are used.

' While I have shown and described herein a preferred construction of device embody- .when the bafiie plate 20 and its component ing my invention, this may be departed from to a greater or lesser degree and yet be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

I claim- 1. A silencer case composed of-two sections formed of cast iron, walls 'concentri cally arranged in each of the sections forming annular chambers and a central chamouter ends, the annular chambers being located at diiferent distances from the center, the central chambers being in am'al alinement and the case having openings to each of the outer annular chambers, and means for securing the two sections together;

2. A silencer case composed of two sections, each having integral end and side Walls, and circular walls formed integral with each end and concentrically arranged forming annular chambers and a central chamber in each section wholly closed at their outer ends, the annular chambers being located at difierent distances from the center and the central chambers being in alinement and the case having openings to each of the outer annular chambers, and means for securing the sections together.

3. A silencer case composed of two sections each closed at one end and open at'its opposite end, walls concentrically located in each section forming annular chambers and central chambers closed at their outer ends, the former in one section being separated from those in the other section and the latter being in alinement and the case having openings through its outer walls to the outermost chamber in one section, and an opening for flow of fluid in the opposite section, and means for securing the open ends of the sections together.

4. A silencer case composed of two sec-' tions each closed at one end and open at the opposite end and with an opening through the side walls thereof, walls concentrically arranged within the case providing annular chambers wholly closed at their outer ends, those in one section being located in alinement with and separated from those in the opposite section when the 'two sections are joined, and means for securing the open ended parts of the two sections together.

5. A silencer case composed of two sections each having a wholly closed and an open end with openings through the side walls of each section, walls concentrically arranged on the closed end of each section forming annular chambers in each section separated from those in the other section, slots extending through each wall from the free edge thereof, and means for securing the open ended parts of the two sections to gether.

6. A silencer case formed in two sections each wholly closed at one end and open at er in each section wholly closed at their free edge inward,

the opposite end, each section having an opening through the side wall thereof, walls projecting from the closed end of each section and concentri ally arranged thereon, forming annular chambers in each section separated from those in the other section, slots formed through each wall and extend mg from the free edge to the bottom thereof, an means for securing the open ended parts of the sections together.

A silencer case formed in two sections each wholly closed at one end and openat the opposite end and with walls concentrically located on the end of each section forming annular chambers in each section separated from those in the other section and wlth openings through. the side walls of each section, a slot extending through the outer concentric Wall at a distance from the opening therein, and means for securing the open ended. parts of the two sections together.

8. A silencer case including two sections each wholly closed at one end and open at the opposite end and each having openings through the outer wall to the interior-thereof, walls concentrically formed within each section on the ends thereof forming annu- 'a slot extending from its free end to the bottom thereof and at a point substantially 90 degrees from the opening, each of the walls having openings connecting the chambers, and means for securing the open ended parts of the casing together.

9. A silencer case composed of two sections each having a wholly closed and an open end and with openings through the side walls thereof, walls extending from the inner face of one of said ends and concentrically located thereon forming annular chambers,'said section having an opening through its wall and the outer concentric wall having a slot located at a point substantially 90 de grees from said opening and the other walls having slots diametrically opposite each other, the slot through the next to the outer wall being located diametrically opposite the slot through the outer wall, and means for securing the two sections together, the other section having an opening tor flow of fluid.

10. A silencer case including two sections each having an open and a wholly closed end and with openings through the side walls thereof, walls projecting from the inner face of the closed end of each section and con centrically arranged thereon, forming annular chambers in each section separated from those in the other section, the outer concentric wall having a slot extending from its and the wall next thereto having a like slot located diametrically opposite the first slot, slots in the succeeding walls located diametrically opposite one another, the inner chambers in each section being in alinement, and means for securing the open ended parts of the casing together.

11. A silencer case composed of two sections each having an open end and a wholly closed end, walls concentrically arranged-on the bottom of said sections providing annular chambers therein, each section having an opening through its side wall and each of the inner walls having communicating passages, a baflie plate located between the two sections forming compartments therein and having apertures therein, and means for securing the two sections of the case together. 7

12. A silencer case composed of two sections each having an open and awholly closed end and an opening through the side wall thereof, walls concentrically arranged on the bottom of each section, each wall having communicating passages therein, bafile plates secured against the edges of thewallsin each section forming one wall of each of the annular chambers, a bafile plate secured between the two sections, and means for securing the open ended parts of the two sections together.

i 13. A silencer case composed of two sec tions each having end andside walls all formed of cast iron and each section being wholly closed at one endand open at the opposite end, walls concentrically arrangedon the ends of each section forming annular chambers in each section separated from those in the other section and a central chamber in each section, each of the sections having openings through the side walls thereof, and means for securing the two sections together. p

14. A silencer case composed of two sections each wholly closed at one end and open at the opposite end, and each having concentrically arranged walls forming concentric chambers, baflle plates located between the chambers in said sections, each section having an opening through its side wall and one section having an inlet-pipe for the entrance of water, means for automatically relieving the case of any excess of water that may accumulate therein, and means for se v curing the sections together.

15. A silencer case formed in two sections, each wholly closed at one end and open at its opposite end, each of the sections 66 have circular walls forming concentric chambers therein and each section having an opening through its case, means for-coni ducting water into one of said sections; bafile plates located between the concentric charm to hers in the sections, said baflie. plates having openings therethrough in their edges, located 7 at the lowest point when thecase is in its normal position, and means for securing the sections together. I

16. A silencer case composed of cast iron having walls integral therewith and concen-' trically arranged therein forming annular chambers and a central chamber, and openings to the outer annular chamber and '70 7 central chamber. r

17. A silencer case composed ofcast i'ron with an outer side. wall and integraljend.

wall, walls projecting inwardly oin the. f

end wall and integral therewith and conceti-f trically arranged thereon'forming annular chambers and a central chamber, said structure having openings to the outer annular chamber and central chamber.

18. A silencer case com osed of cast iron having an outer wall and integral end wall, walls integral therewith projecting inwardly therefrom and concentrically arranged therein forming annular chambers, said-con centric walls having narrow openings theresiga through extending inward from the outer free edge, said structurehaving openings to i said inner and to said outer annular chambers, and a cast iron member secured to close the open end of said case. j

19. A silencer case composed of cast iron including an end wall and an integral side wall, annular walls formed integral with the end wall and concentrically arranged there- .on and having narrow openings, each 10- cated opposite a solid wall and of a width to cause the stream flow thereat and from opposite directions to interfere, and a cast iron member closing the open end of, said case, said structure havmgopemngs to the outer annular chamber and central chamber.

JOHN E HUTCHNS.

Witnesses: T

An'rrron B. Jrmxms, E. F. Enron. 

